RCD has established three different classifications of low ropes course and like many high ropes course designs it is not necessarily clear cut. For example an element on a continuous challenge course could also be a good team challenge element. Nevertheless, for simplicity, RCD broadly categorise low ropes courses as follows:
Continuous Challenge
Obstacle Course
Team Challenge Elements
In most instances the ground covering is a substantial part of the cost (sometimes as much as half the cost). If the facility is being used with qualified supervision then there is rarely a need for the ground covering to conform to any standard (e.g. playgrounds); however, it should be fit for purpose. This will normally mean that it is free of obstacles. This usually takes the form of wood / bark chippings or pea gravel. Ground covering also plays an important role in preventing ground compaction with subsequent root damage to trees (obviously applicable in woodland settings) and greatly improves operational efficiency.
In our experience younger children derive most benefit from a continuous challenge course or an obstacle course. This does not mean that young children too cannot benefit from team challenge elements (e.g. Spiders Web, Challenge Walls, Minefield etc); indeed they can, but that more fun and learning appears to be generated from challenges that require less team working skills and more physical movement.
A continuous challenge course is most easily built into trees and an obsticle course comes in best freestanding. A continuous challenge course, as the name implies, consists of is a series of elements like the Postman’s Walk, Multi-Vine and Balance Beams. A continuous challenge course in trees will typically cost £2,000 an element (this price includes ground covering). If trees are not suitable or available then a continuous challenge course can be built on poles and the most suitable structure for this purpose, in our opinion, is the RCD Low Hexagonal Ropes Course and this typically costs £18,000 (includes ground covering which alone costs £4,000).
A freestanding obstacle course will cost in the region of £30,000. One third of this cost relates to ground covering.
For older children and adults there are a number of tremendous team challenges; some of which can be built in trees but most of which can be freestanding. The costs of these vary tremendously and many can be self built.
